SM32 Garden Railway phase 2 2014 - 15
by Mark Dale, Alan Duckworth, David Osbourne
Rod, Brian Dale
The SM32 Garden Railway phase 1 was built in the year 2012.
We have had the Sm32 in operation now for the past year 2013 and it has created a lot of interest from members and public alike. Letting the children at the birthday parties have a go certainly has gone down well. I would now like to propose to extend the railway, this will take the form of :-
Following the laurel hedge along the pond on boards constructed the same as the original layout this will be double track to the end of the hedge where we will create a loop, here the track will run on a concrete viaduct to the waterfall which it will then cross on a steel bridge, continuing on the viaduct round a right-hand curve going round the back of the bushes to run ground level for a passing loop & station, then continue on a viaduct between the gap in the bushes to meet back up with the boards to return back to the existing layout running double track.
Progress so far :-
Map below shows in Pink pahase 1, Orange is the proposed phase 2
Dave Osbourne has made the bridge to span the water fall & we have cut the wood to run alongside the hedge.
We are now in the process of making a mould to cast the bridge piers which will support the concrete viaduct. The next job will be getting the bridge across the water fall in the correct position.
The SM32 Bridge Pillars
A fibre glass mould has been made to cast the bridge supports. This was produced by taking an imprint of a mock up bridge support then breaking the mould off it, two of the sides released ok but the other two had a lot of plaster stuck in them that had to be jet washed out.
Next job was to bolt the mould together and make a casting the first one had a length of drain pipe in the middle this has now been replaced by a piece of foam to lighten the casting. We are now coating the mould in vegetable oil to make it release easier. Two down lots more to do! Our next job will be to fix the supports in place over the water fall and then carry on from there.
Rod helping make room for a pillar by the waterfall. Allan Mark & Rod doing a mock up with a new pillars. The new bridge as it should look.
Sunday 25th May 2014
Mark & Allan have been busy on another bridge arch We are getting to see what it is going to look like as well. Mark is busy painting the release agent on the wood Cooking oil. The two side in place been wired together at three points. Concrete in place. One more done. Three done many more to do!!! Looking good lads Checking the carriage will pass over it. The wooden mould the inner concrete on a arch.
Saturday 7th June
I am lead to be leave it rain with no intention of stopping as they worked. The bridge now in position not even the rain was going to stop us hence the cover. After the sun came out. The concrete arches will fit into the recess on the pillar.
Tuesday 17th June 2014
Work has stated on the Y branch. Rod & Brian preparing the capping stone. Arch in position this is where the point for the loop will come in. The track will come in from the left to join the main line coming straight down
Sunday 3rd Aug 2014
The pond hill climb section
Today the lads fitted the wood to the tops of the poles. There is a small raise in the track bed along this section
many thanks to Ian for the photos. Allan busy working on the top other two ? This is interesting a sprit level or two to set the incline. Allan after setting the incline. A piece of one inch thick wood set at the correct distance along the level.
Friday 8th August 2014
Ian emailed this to me ‘on the level’ the viaduct is progressing slowly but surely, another 3 sections added on Friday by the team inclined to get it right with it’s permanent slope of 1 in 60, one wonders if the loco’s will take it that way!
Sunday 24th August 2014
Today Mark Allan & Ian have been very busy adding the fibre glass matting to the top section
They had all ready done the wood for it all. Thanks to Ian for keeping us up today.The Y junction the left side is over the new bridge.
Wednesday 10th Sept 2014
Working Party. The lads had a small working party comprising of Mark D, Allan D, Rod, and Dave O. As you can see they have been very busy.
Progress to date, we have now almost completed the run along the hedge, the boards are now fixed in position have been fibre glassed and just need trimming then covering in roofing felt.
We continue in the manufacture of arch sides & we are casting at least one pillar a week. Once we have a few in stock we have a session planting them as it is easier to do a few at a time.
The next job will be to bring the branch round off the bridge to meet up with the mainline at the back of the bushes. Once this is complete we will start work on the passing loop area which will be on a raised bed. We have pegged out the levels around here & were surprised to find them higher than first expected. Thanks Mark
Freight train on the high level! waiting for an engine! Dave sorry 'Rembrandt' starting his master piece. After the black has dried a light grey has been applied with a sponge. The arches will be fixed and levelled next time.
Sunday 19th Oct 2014
Mark Rod & Ian were busy laying the last few pillars before the cold weather set in. Mark & Rod laying out the path of arches. Work started on digging and planting the pillars. The new route decided! or short cut. Work progressing well 5 pillars planted by the team.
4th January 2015.
Allan Ian Mark Rod have been busy laying track on the new viaduct They have made great progress on building the viaduct. but due to frost they have stopped casting pillars outside. But felt they could lay some track on the new section. A cold frosty view over the bridge. Rod Allan & Mark making a start from were thy last stopped laying track.. Allan pointing out where we are going! Ian waiting to start ballast laying.Ian in full motion with his dibbing stick. Trial run across the new track. A nice side shot of Mark's Australian NA class Loco. The track awaiting Ian's attention when we get some more ballast
11th Sunday January 2015
The lads have been busy laying track from the viaduct back. Mark busy with his trusty battery screw driver. Ian and Allan checking his work. Allan & Ian ballasting today work. More stone been delivered. The newly laid bridge junction. Allan's NG15 is today's clearance test loco.
Friday 6th March 2015
Mark Rod & Allan took advantage of the good Spring weather to move the viaduct along, and planted five pillars. Sunday we will fix the arches onto the pillars. Rod wondering what he's going to do with that soil! All the pillars in position ready for concreting in. Rod still not sure about that corner being high perhaps it's the stones in the sand stopping it going down! Allan relaxing on the job tamping down
March 17th March 22nd 2015
The lads have been very busy working on the raised bed track section cutting and planting sleepers. The start of it all. The white lines are the track bed with a passing loop. Ian showing of his handy work of Mark and himself ! No chain gang here just a bow saw. Rod and Mark busy levelling one of the sleepers. The other side the sleepers. The white is the route. You can just see the white line route down to Allan by the viaduct end. Friday 3rd April, work on the sleeper area. Allan tamping the ground down. Chris playing a major part holding the sleeper down whilst surgery is carried out on the other end, Allan's turn with the saw. A game for all Rod & Ian on the bow saw these sleepers made everyone puff from lifting to cutting. The finished article next we shall start filling it ready for the track to go in the middle. The other end the track will follow the curve and head back off into the field on more arches, so plenty of work to carry on with!
Sunday 5th April 2015
Work on the sleeper area. Allan tamping the ground down. Chris playing a major part holding the sleeper down whilst surgery is carried out on the other end. The other end Allan's turn with the saw. A game for all Rod & Ian on the bow saw these sleepers made everyone puff from lifting to cutting. The finished article next we shall start filling it ready for the track to go in the middle. Rod hard at it. Mark testing the shovel is the correct height. The other end the track will follow the curve and head back off into the field on more arches, so plenty of work to carry on with!
Friday 24th April 2015
The lads had a pillar planting session today, and at the end the hard work produced a very productive day. here's the results. Rod & Allan make a start digging in the foundations. The pillars starting to go in. Rod thinking that doesn't look right? After a bit of tweaking that's better. The two viaducts merging. Rod & Allan concreting the foundations in. End of the day's work a small bridge will fill the gap to the sleepers. This part of the viaduct was a bit tricky as we had to work on both sections at the same time to get them level when they meet at the sleepers
Friday 19th 2015
After weeks building the arch stock pile up the team arrived today for what's now known as a mass planting day.
By the end of the day the viaduct has now grown well into the field. Thanks Mark
Is that number 4 arch or 5? Allan with his dibbing stick, Dave checking he's doing it right, Rod checking the fish. Rod digging out the turf supervised by Allan. Dave still trying to work out what's going on! The viaduct roughly laid out ready for the pillars to be concreted in place. Dave & Allan giving Rod advice on how to handle a sloppy mix. Rod & Dave putting the finishing touches to Allan's sloppy mix!
Saturday & Sunday 15th 16th Aug 2015
The New Trestle Bridge
The lads have decided a trestle bridge would look the part Dave O has yet again made a wonderful job building it. This weekend seen it been built in place. Dave checking the fitting out of the trestle bridge he has built. The team hard at work. Allan & Rod trying out different rock formations. Rod keeping an eye out. The end stone going in. Track laying gang completing the run up to the sleepers. Mark Checking the pillars are not to height or low!. Looking impressive lads Allan & Dave hard track laying. ONLY 4 more boxes of screws to fit each needing hole drilling
30th Sunday Aug
Sunday 30th A close up of the bridge with a full size photo linked to it for you. Other photos just of interest. The ballast been tamped down by a new recruit Adrian. Rod waiting for the rain to pass over. Mark is Ok as the rain has past him.
1st November Sunday 2015
A good working party and the final bit of track fitted in place today by the lads. Another platform taking shape. A step to cross over the other side. Allan checking the sprit level ! I can do this job in my sleep now ! How many drills did you brake lads? Last hole and screw been fitted.
That's it All Done the lads couldn't wait to run their locos around. Thanks to Allan Dave and Mark for the photos.
Sunday 5th June 2016 saw the official opening of our
extension to the garden railway.
Although we completed the circuit back in December 2015 we decided it would be good to have an official opening when the weather was warmer! We also coincided it with the visit of our friends from the Erewash club.
The team decided to meet on the Saturday to make sure all was spick & span around the site, after a good days work we left the site happy it was ready for the following day, the place was immaculate and we even completed concreting under the arches along with laying ballast to finish it off.
Sunday morning the weather was a little ominous, we arrived on site and got the rolling stock out for the opening at 11.00. I had a chat with Bill & Allan and we decided to put it back till 11.30 to give a few more people chance to arrive. This provided a good move, just as Bill made his speech the clouds parted and the sun came out.
Following Bills speech Sharon cut a ribbon across the track at the start of the extension, the first official train then departed made up of mine & Allan’s Australian locos double heading on 8 matching coaches round the extension to a round of applause.
Afterwards we spent a lovely afternoon running trains and enjoying a BBQ, also receiving a lot of praise off visitors and members alike.
I must give a big thank you to all those involved in the project making it possible and who are continuing to maintain it to the same standard.
Mark Dale